Hi all. Kevin Hague, Green spokesperson on biosecurity posted this blog today. Quentin
http://blog.greens.org.nz/2009/10/29/govt-takes-green-advice-on-saving-kauri/
Govt takes Green advice on saving Kauri
Published: October 29, 2009
by Kevin Hague
Following my call last week, today the Government has announced it will act to prevent the spread of kauri rot, the didymo of the forest that affects the native kauri tree. The kauri is an evolutionary dinosaur, first appearing in the Jurassic period 195-130 million years ago. It’s a taonga to all New Zealanders.
The Ministers of Conservation and Biosecurity today pledged $4.7 million to help save kauri from the dieback disease. This nearly doubled the funding for fighting this enormous threat to what is arguably our most iconic tree.
The five-year programme aims to contain the soil-borne disease, which is attacking kauri trees in the upper North Island and on Great Barrier Island.
Multiple Government agencies, councils, iwi and environment groups are working together on the project, but desperately need more support to be effective.
I am pleased that my call for that extra support has fallen on listening Ministerial ears, and has been so prompty actioned. A week ago I said the Government needed to act “swiftly and definitively”, and Ministers have – it’s good to see.
Not only that, but I called for both research funding and “an enhanced public information and awareness campaign to prevent the spread of kauri rot”. They have responded with both:
The five-year programme will cover research into the detection and spread of kauri dieback and methods to control it. A public awareness campaign to arrest its spread will also be developed.
My call was unlikely to be the only reason for the swift action. In my statement a week ago I pointed out that:
Conservation Minister Tim Groser’s recent announcement of plans to create a National Park in Northland’s Waipoua Forest will be a waste of money if Tane Mahuta and other giants of the kauri forest fall victim to kauri rot.
I’ve got a feeling that alerting Minister Groser to the potential problem of a Kauri National Park with sick or no kauri has helped the Government’s resolve to solve this problem.
But good on them – whatever the trigger.
Footnote: Metiria Turei also recently pointed out that there is a mining permit covering the Waipoua Forest Sanctuary, which is the proposed Kauri National Park area. The Northern Advocate reported (offline) last week that both the DOC Area Manager and Waipoua Forest trustee were unaware of this, and aghast. So, now that Ministers Groser and Carter have listened and acted on kauri rot; hopefully Ministers Brownlee and Groser will listen on the importance of protecting places like the Waipoua by leaving them in Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act!